Guess Whose Back…Back Again! {Special Monday Musts}

Guess whose back….tell a friend!

Well, it’s not Eminem, readers – it’s me!

Now that recruitment is over and I have 49 beautiful new sisters, I’m able to get back down into the wonderful word of blogging!

I’ve missed blogging so much recently and was reminded about how much I love it during a recent trip out with my best friend.

After breaking my iPhone (whoops), my best friend and I went to the local Apple store to get it fixed. While out, we decided to get Shake Shack and skip the usual cafe food. While ordering, I was asked if I was Sami from “Sparkle and Shine” – I was so surprised!

Julia and I both starred with our mouths dropped. I felt like a mini celebrity; like Paris Hilton before the “Simple Life” gig or Bieber before the YouTube discovery. It turned out to be Emma from The World According to Emma, another college blogger. It was by far one of the coolest moments of my life!

Besides being a mini-celebrity, I’ve been super busy.

I’ve been working on my broadcasting skills. This past week I was the entertainment anchor for my school’s TV station, Q30, and did a package for one of our entertainment segments, #That. Check them out –

Plus, I’ve been getting down and derby with my sisters.

As an Executive Board Member of my sorority, I plan events for our sisters. This past weekend, I executed our first ever Bowties and ADPis event, a Kentucky Derby themed Grab-a-Date on our quad. Sisters and their dates dressed in their floppiest hats and brightest bowties and spent the day playing croquet and other yard games. I brought my best friend, Ben, because there is no one I know who is willing to get fratty and dress preppy! Here’s one of the many pictures of us-

But readers, I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to finally be back!

Recruitment is over and I am finally back into my blogging groove. I have so many posts planned, so get set…get ready…because Sparkle and Shine is about to really shine.

But, make sure you shine, too, readers! Have a great week and keep sparkling!

30Jun2014

Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers!

Can you believe that this week starts July? Summer seems to be flying by my eyes faster than the speed of light. Maybe it’s the 40 hour work weeks or all the blogging? Who knows, all I know is that I’m making the most of my time and this week definitely demonstrated this.

First off, I finally got to reunite with one of my best friends from college, Jen!

We got to catch up (she just came back from Disney – I’m so jealous!), talk all about the new season of Orange is the New Black, stuffed our faces at The Cheesecake Factory, and saw one of the best films ever. You’re just going to have to keep reading to see which movie it was!

My mom also surprised me with tickets to see Cinderella on Broadway for this week! Cinderella is my all time favorite Disney character and has been an obsession of mine for as long as I can remember. My wedding – which is completely planned out, thank you very much – will even be Cinderella themed. After my mom surprised me, I tweeted about my excitement – and Cinderella on Broadway tweeted back!

After completely fan-girling and thinking nothing more exciting could happen to me on Twitter this week, it did.

After this week’s Duck Dynasty episode, Martin, one of the show’s main cast members, did #askMartin on Twitter. During this time, viewers could tweet questions at Martin and he would respond. I normally don’t participate, but thought I would give it a shot this week. Much to my surprise, he answered my question!

Follow me on Twitter to see what exciting events will happen for me this week on my favorite social media site!

Before you do that, however, check out this week’s Monday Musts!

1. The Fault in Our Stars Movie

Back in February, when The Fault in Our Stars movie trailer was released, I wrote about my excitement in that week’s Monday Musts. I finally got to see the movie! Jen and I are both TFIOS fans, so we waited til we were both free to go see the movie together. The movie lived up to what I was hoping it could be. Though it may not have been as amazing as the book (the movies never are), the movie itself was still amazing. I laughed and I cried as John Green’s novel came to life right before my eyes. Now, I don’t want to give away any plot details because everyone should see this movie. Plus, now I have the BIGGEST celeb crush on Ansel Elgort, the American-Russian actor who played Augustus.

2. Dawson’s Creek

I remember being a pre-teen and catching re-run episodes of the teen drama, Dawson’s Creek. Every time I heard the start of “I Don’t Wanna Wait,” I would glue myself to the television to watch the episode. However, since the show aired from 1998-2003, I didn’t get to see all the episodes, in order. Thanks to Netflix, I now am able to! I started the six season series, which follows Jen, Dawson, Pacey, and Joey in the New England town of Capeside. The show follows the teens as they experience love, heart break, friendship, and other trials and tribulations. Now that I finished Orange is the New Black, this is the new show I’m watching non-stop!

3. Guess the Emoji App

I don’t really get addicted to games on my phone, since I’m normally too busy tweeting, liking pictures on Instagram, or answering e-mails from one of my four accounts. However, my Facebook feed one day was loaded with people asking for help on the Guess the Emoji app. I love games that make you think like this one. So as I was guessing the answers to the questions people were asking for help on, I decided to download the free app for myself! On the app, you are given emoji images that either form a word, a phrase, or represent a word/phrase. The letters that you need are scrambled up alongside extra letters. You must then solve the puzzle to gain more points and advance to the next round!

I can’t wait for next Monday to share about my adventures of the next week with you – keep your eyes open for a post about my room that I am repainting and redecorating and more!

Have a great week, readers! Keep sparkling!

10Feb2014

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, “Sparkle and Shine” readers!

Hope you all had an exciting week! I had two snow days this week, which was exactly what I needed to relax! It has made my school schedule much more hectic – one of my classes I still have only had once this semester! But just like life goes, we have to adjust to the obstacles and go with it, which is exactly what I am doing!

Overall, this week had been SUPER positive. To be honest, I don’t think I have a single thing to complain about!

Plus, I had such an incredible weekend. I stayed in on Friday night to watch a scary movie with my best friend and then went out to Quinnipiac’s infamous club scene, Toads, for the first time of the semester and then had a sleepover with my best friend after!

So let’s keep the positive energy and good vibes rolling for this week! Here’s this week’s My Monday Musts!

1. Cookie Dough Doughnut from Dunkin Donuts

Yes, I know I JUST posted about eating healthy on a college budget, but hey, a girl needs a cheat meal every now and then! In every article I ever read about eating healthy, it says to allow yourself a cheat meal every once in a while not to restrict yourself. Well, ladies, I think I just found mine! My friends and I recently (and by recently I mean one of our multiple weekly trips) to Dunkin Donuts, I saw their new “cookie dough doughnut.” I’m a total sucker for cookie dough products, so I just had to try this new doughnut. When I tell you it was the best thing I have ever eaten…it was the best thing I have ever eaten! The regular doughnut has chocolate frosting and sprinkles on top, but inside it has warm, melted cookie dough! YUM!! Next time you feel like splurging, go on over to Dunkin Donuts and try their seasonal cookie dough doughnut! But hurry! It’s only out for a short amount of time!

2. “The Fault in Our Stars” Trailer

Every TFIOS fan has been freaking out since the trailer has been released – I now I have! You know I’m a huge fan based on this post. My Facebook and Twitter feeds were filled with people sharing the link to the best selling novel turned movie that will come out in the summer. “The Fault in Our Stars” is by far the best book I have ever read in my life and I honestly believe that no book will ever be able to top it. Ever. So now that it’s coming onto the big screen, any book nerd, would be freaking out about if the movie is going to not play up the how incredible the book was. Based on the trailer, I absolutely think that it will. I keep watching the trailer on repeat, even though it makes me cry every single time. The book made me bawl hysterically, so I think I will have to bring two boxes of tissues to the movies. No matter how many tears I plan on shedding, this movie is just another reason I am even more excited for summer!

3. Seventeen Magazine Social Club

Readers, I have recently received news about the greatest thing to ever, ever, ever happen to me. I am now officially a member of the Seventeen Magazine Social Club!! Yes, the Seventeen Magazine that I grew up on read as my own person Bible. As a member of the Seventeen Social Club, I will receive some awesome freebies from the company to blog about and share on my other social media sites, get access to awesome VIP events, get the inside scoop on special deals and discounts, AND have the possibility to appear in the pages of Seventeen itself! Receiving an e-mail from Seventeen, and having it signed XOXO, Your Friends at Seventeen Magazine, was the most incredible moment to ever happen to me. Of course, I received it when I was at the gym and started bawling my eyes out on the elliptical. But hey, it’s okay because my Carrie Bradshaw dreams are slowly coming true!!

By the way have you entered my giveaway yet?! Calling all sorority girls – get on it ASAP, if you have not already!! It’s for this awesome app which you can get for FREE if you win!! I’m loving it, so check it out!

Plus, check out my awesome sponsors! Head over to my sidebar and see where it says “Check out these Sparkling bloggers who are reading “Sparkle and Shine” ??? They’re some pretty awesome bloggers and are sponsoring me this month, so make sure you go and check them out!!!

Have a great week, readers! Keep sparkling!

21Oct2013

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers!

Hope you all are having a fabulous Monday! I know I sure am! Guess who got a 100 on her last nutrition exam after studying for over 8 hours?! Me! And nothing can put me in a better mood than knowing that all my hard work is paying off during my 8 a.m.

However, now I’m stuck back in reality though after the incredible weekend I had. It’s no more city streets, but back to my campus. There’s no more hole-in-wall dining, but a cafeteria. I’m just stuck with all the memories, tired legs, and a new Facebook profile picture.

But another part of my reality though, is bringing to you all my Monday Musts!

1. How I Met Your Mother

Once I returned home from New York City, my little diamond, Amber, began to tell me about her newest obsession, the television show “How I Met Your Mother.” I’ve heard so many people talk about, read so many tweets about it, but never had any interest in it. I always felt that it was in someway similar to “Friends,” and nothing could ever compete for my heart the way Chandler, Ross, Joey, Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe have. After a much needed few minutes of relaxing, I decided to give the show a chance and watch with her. I quickly became obsessed. We have watched so many episodes in just a short amount of time as we try to figure out who the mother is. It’s safe to say that I finally hopped onto the “How I Met Your Mother” bandwagon!

2. Quinnipiac got an Alex and Ani

I looooove Alex and Ani bracelets! My collection includes the anchor bangle, the Alpha Delta Pi bangle, and the daughter bangle. Quinnipiac’s campus was in uproar when Alex and Ani released the Quinnipiac University bangle, decked out with the Bobcat and our school’s name! I, like every other girl on campus, was in love and obsessed – and may have even stopped breathing for a few seconds. I can’t wait to hopefully add this to my collection, especially since Christmas is just around the corner( if you really want to know, I like it in silver)!

3. Ice Cream IS Happiness

By accident before, I opened up my Tumblr app, which hasn’t been open in forever thanks to Pinterest. The first photo that popped up said “…You cannot buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream (which is almost the same thing).” I instantly fell in love with the photo and had to screenshot it to save it and now share it all with you. Fun fact, one of my all time favorite foods is ice cream. Whenever I’m happy, whenever I am sad, or almost whenever in general, I could go for a big bowl of ice cream! Almost every Monday, my big diamond, Katherine, and I go to a local ice cream place, called Wentworths. We catch up on each other’s weekends and give each other a play-by-play of our nights. The only thing that gets me through the dreaded Monday is our weekly big diamond/little diamond ice cream dates! Seeing this photo made me realize how true it is- my true happiness from Mondays comes from ice cream dates with Katherine! If you’re stuck in those Monday blues today, grab yourself some Ben & Jerry’s! Yummy!